Lesson Plan | Active Methodology | Art: Ancient Mesopotamia

Premises: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class duration, prior student study both with the Book and the beginning of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be carried out during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a large part of the available time.

Objective

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

This stage of the lesson plan is vital for building a strong foundation of knowledge that will enable students to apply and expand their understanding of Mesopotamian art. By clearly defining the objectives, students can focus their attention on practical classroom activities, leading to a more effective and critical grasp of the subject.

Objective Utama:

1. Enhance students' understanding of art in Ancient Mesopotamia, examining its social, religious, and aesthetic roles.

2. Analyze and identify key features of Mesopotamian mythological and architectural representations, understanding how these elements reflect the cultural and technological context of their time.

Objective Tambahan:

1. Encourage critical analysis and comparison among various artistic and cultural expressions.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The introduction aims to engage students with content they've encountered at home, using real-life scenarios that prompt the application of their prior knowledge. Additionally, contextualizing Mesopotamian art with its historical and cultural importance lays the groundwork for a more in-depth and meaningful analysis during class activities.

Problem-Based Situation

1. Imagine you are an archaeologist in Mesopotamia and uncover an ancient cylinder seal. How would you interpret the images and inscriptions to learn more about the religion and politics of that era?

2. If a film were to be made about Ancient Mesopotamia, which elements of Mesopotamian art, like figurines, reliefs, and murals, would be key to portraying the setting and customs accurately?

Contextualization

Mesopotamian art was not just about aesthetics but was deeply intertwined with the beliefs and social structures of the period. For instance, depictions of gods and kings on monuments conveyed power and a divine connection, while architectural marvels like ziggurats underscored the role of religion in everyday life. Moreover, artifacts like cylinder seals, used for marking documents and properties, demonstrated the technical and artistic prowess of the Mesopotamians. This contextualization aids in grasping the significance of Mesopotamian art within its historical backdrop.

Development

Duration: (70 - 75 minutes)

The Development phase is crafted to allow students to apply their existing knowledge of Mesopotamian art through engaging and practical activities. Through fun and contextualized tasks, students can explore themes of architecture, mythology, and artistic technology in-depth, reinforcing their comprehension while sparking creativity and critical thinking.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended that only one of the suggested activities be carried out

Activity 1 - Ancient Architects

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Understand the significance and characteristics of ziggurats in Mesopotamia through the practical exercise of model building, blending knowledge of history, art, and engineering.

- Description: In this activity, students will be tasked with designing and constructing a model of a Mesopotamian ziggurat. They should take into account the ziggurat's role in ancient society, its connection to religious practices, and its unique architectural style.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Provide each group with materials like cardboard, glue, scissors, and paints or markers for decoration.

• Ask each group to quickly look up the function and appearance of ziggurats.

• Each group should then sketch a basic design of the ziggurat they plan to build.

• Once the design is approved, students can start constructing the model, following their researched dimensions and features.

• Groups will present their models to the class, explaining their design choices and the significance of the ziggurat in ancient society.

Activity 2 - Gods in Clay: Creating Mythological Figures

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Explore the symbolism and significance of deities in Mesopotamian society, fostering research, creativity in art, and skills in presentation.

- Description: Students will sculpt figures of Mesopotamian deities using clay. This activity intends to explore the portrayals of deities in Mesopotamian art and understand how mythology shaped social and religious practices.

- Instructions:

• Organize the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Distribute blocks of clay and simple modeling tools to each group.

• Instruct students to select a Mesopotamian deity to depict in their clay figure.

• Each group should research their chosen deity, concentrating on its traits and historical context.

• Students will then model the clay to depict the deity, incorporating symbolic aspects of its mythology and influence.

• At the conclusion, each group will present their deity and discuss their creative process.

Activity 3 - Deciphering the Cylinder Seal

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop skills in analyzing and interpreting archaeological artifacts, appreciating the role of cylinder seals in communication and administration in Mesopotamia.

- Description: Students will 'decipher' a Mesopotamian cylinder seal using clay printing techniques, learning about the inscriptions and images that authenticated documents and properties of the time.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5.

• Provide each group with a 3D printed model of a cylinder seal and a block of clay.

• Guide students in preparing the clay for printing, using traditional Mesopotamian methods.

• Each group must use the cylinder seal to create impressions in the clay, attempting to interpret the imagery and inscriptions.

• After the printing, groups will share what they 'deciphered' and what it reveals about Mesopotamian culture.

• Each group will present their discoveries and insights to the class.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

This aspect of the lesson plan is crucial for consolidating students' learning, ensuring they can articulate and compare their individual understandings with those of their classmates. Group discussions foster critical thinking and communication skills, and the collective reflection on the conducted activities broadens students' insights into Mesopotamian art and culture, leading to a deeper and richer educational experience.

Group Discussion

At the conclusion of the practical activities, gather all students for a group discussion. Begin by asking each group to briefly share their key findings and challenges encountered during the activities. Then, encourage an exchange of thoughts among the groups, promoting discussions on differing interpretations and approaches used. This moment is crucial for students to collectively reflect on their learning experiences and how they can apply this knowledge in various contexts.

Key Questions

1. What main obstacles were faced when attempting to recreate or interpret artifacts from Mesopotamia?

2. In what ways did the practical activities enhance your understanding of the functions and significance of ziggurats, deities, and cylinder seals in Mesopotamian culture?

3. How do the artistic representations we've studied reflect the beliefs and social dynamics of Ancient Mesopotamia?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The aim of this stage of the lesson plan is to ensure students have thoroughly consolidated the knowledge acquired, comprehending both the practical and theoretical application of the discussed themes. Additionally, it intends to underscore the significance of Mesopotamian art in understanding ancient history and culture, preparing students for further reflections and studies on the topic.

Summary

To wrap up, the teacher should summarize the key discussion points regarding art in Mesopotamia, highlighting the mythological and architectural representations. They should reiterate the significance of ziggurats, deities, and cylinder seals, and how these elements mirror the social and religious fabric of that time.

Theory Connection

During the lesson, students successfully linked theoretical knowledge to hands-on tasks, such as constructing ziggurat models, sculpting divine figures in clay, and interpreting cylinder seals. These activities fostered a direct connection between the theoretical concepts studied and their practical applications, enhancing understanding and retention.

Closing

Grasping Mesopotamian art is essential not just for appreciating aesthetics but also for comprehending the culture and society of Ancient Mesopotamia. The elements discussed, such as depictions of gods and kings, adorned spaces but were also integral to the political and religious powers and beliefs of that era.